Slug or bunch catcher



July 10, 1928. 1 I 1,677,110

T. J. SANDS SLUG OR BUNCH CA'TCHER Filed March 6, 1924 Mar/@945:

Patented July 10, 1928.

UNITED, STATES.

THOMAS J; SANDS, OI AUBURN,- RHODE ISLAND'.

SLUG OR BUNCH. CATCHER.

Application filed March 6, 1924. Serial No. 697,311.

This invention relates to animproved slug 1 use with winding or other textile machines employed in transferring yarn from one container to another such as in winding the material from bobbins onto spools or cops.

My invention relates particularly to improvements in the structure and arrangement of the slug or bunch-catcher shown and described in my priorU. S. Letters Patent No. 1,012,449, dated December 19, 1911. n

One object of the invention is to provide a. device of the type specified which may be constructed from sheet-metal stampings at economical cost and with greater uniformity with respect to its manufacture in large quantities.

Another object of the invention is to render the device proof against derangement and getting, out of order, and also to insure against wear or deterioration of'its mechanism duringlong periods of use.

Another object of. the invention, is to pro vide improved means for adjusting the slugcatcher whereby a plurality of the units may be connected for accurate setting in uniform adjustment for the same size of. yarn or thread Another object of the invention is to provide improved thread or yarn-engaging :73 means in the device which are less liable to chafe. abrade or otherwise injure the strand passing through the slug-catcher.

Another object of the invention is to provide for greater convenience in cleaning the device of slugs, bunches, lint and dirt gathered in the process of clearing or cleaning the yarn.

Further objectsof the improvement are set forth in the following specification which 43 describes a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing two of the improved slug-catchers applied to use in series and showing the manner in which the thread or yarn draws therethrough, and also illustrating the means for adjusting several of the devices in unison; j

2 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device-in sec tion taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the frame of the device taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing the construction of the lower thread-guiding plate;

Fig. 5 is a detailed View of the blank from which the casing of the slug-catching element is constructed;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of one of the toothed leaves or plate-members of the slugcatchinq element; and

Fig. l is a perspective view ofthe guard or yarnvshield for the slug-catching element of the device.

The invention in general consists in providing improved means for actingon a running yarn, thread or filament to detect and seize a slug, bunch or knot in the strand whereby the latter is broken so that the machine to which the material is delivering will be arrested in operation and the operator given notice that the slug or'other obstruction must be removed and the yarn pieced together again in the proper manner. To this end my improved device comprises, essentially, a bearing-roller across which the yarn draws, and a cooperating slug-catcher or clamping element arranged in such relation thereto that the yarn may normally draw freely between said elements; the catcher being adapted to be engaged by a slug, bunch or knot to seize the latter against the roller whereby the yarn will be broken so that the slug or other enlargement may be removed.

Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have here illustrated two of my improved slug-catchers arranged in series for operating on two individual strands, with means for coupling the two devices so that they may be adjusted in unison from a distant point. The device is adapted for use in series on a gang or frame of winding machines with a slug-catcher for each winding spindle, and in such case it is the common practice to employ all of the winding heads for winding a certain size or count of yarn. Therefore, all of. the devices are made adjustable in unison in accordance with the size of yarn being used. This practice elimlnates the need for separate setting of each quired. The frame :2 comprises a vertical back-plate 3, from the rearward side of which extends a loop-lil e arm 1 bent around to encompass a rod on which. the device is supported. A screw (5 reaching down through the upper part of the arm 4 is threaded into the under part. thereof and acts to clamp the arm on the rod 5 to hold the slugcatcher in fixed position on the machine. The rod 5 may be a part of the framework of the winding or other machine, or may be held in brackets projecting from the legs of the machine and extending in horizontal relation so that the slug-catchers may be adjusted t-hercalong to set them in the proper relation to their respective winding spindles. Projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the lower corner of the plate 2 is an ear 9 formed with a hole for receiving a horizontal sliding rod or bar 10 which is connected to adjust the contact-elements of the difl'erent devices. The contactor bearing-roller 12, across which the yarn or other strand draws, is journalcd on a stud 13 projecting from a pivoted arm 14. The arm 14: is pivoted at 15 to the upper part of the frame 2 at the rear of the plate 3, said plate being cut away at 16 to provide an opening through which the roller 12 projects. At the lower end of the arm 1a is a slot 18 adapted to be engaged by a screw or pin '19 projecting from a collar secured fast in place on the adjusting-rod 10. The screw 19 holds the collar 20 in place on the rod 10 and by releasing the screw the collar may be adjusted therealong, in order to set it in proper position for regulating the adjustment of the arm 1 1 and its roller 12.

Projecting forwardly from the bottom of the frame 2 is a slotted plate 21, see Fig. -l, having a flaring opening 22 leading into an eye 23 through which the thread or yarn 3/ draws. A substantially triangular-shaped car 24:, cut away from the metal of the backplate 3, is bent forwardly to overlie the thread-guiding plate 21 in spaced relation therewith, see Fig. 4. The car 22 1 acts as a yarn-retainer to hold the strand ;2 in the guide-eye 23 after it has been threaded into place by drawing it in through the opening between the ear and the plate. At the top of the frame 2 is a forwardly-projecting plate 25, preferably cut away in skeleton structure to save weight, and having an inclined front edge which acts to lead the yarn into a guide-eye in the plate. Preferably, a porcelain or other vitreous eye 26 is set into the edge of the plate in line with the eye 23 of the lower plate 21 so that the yarn g is adapted to leadtherethrough in a straight line in position to draw across the periphery of the contact-roller 12.

The upper righbhand portion of the frame 2 isformed with a rounded contour provided with a projecting portion 28 having two spaced-apart cars 29 projecting forwardly therefrom. Pivoled between the cars .29 is a lever 30 having rcarwardly extending cars 31 for receiving a pivotpin 32 held in the cars 29. The lever 30 carries the slugor hunch-catching element 3:) which is pivoted thereto on a stud or bin 36 projecting rearwardly from its lower end, see Fig. 3. The lever 30 is adapted to be tilted or swung on its pivot 82 to withdraw the slug-catching element forwardly away from the contact-roller 12 to provide for the removal of the slug, bunch or other obstruction caught between the roller and the catcher, and also for cleaning these elements of lint, specks, dirt and other collections gathered during the operation of the device. Normally, the catcher is held in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 by a spring 37 acting on the lever 30. The spring 37 is coiled around the pivot-pin 32 with one end hooked across the end of one of the cars 31 on the lever 30 and its other end hooked across the eilgelof the back-plate 3. The spring 37 tends to hold the lever 30 in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 with the end of the stud 36 hearing against the front face of the frame 2, and by pressing with the finger on the rounded portion 38 of the lever the latter may be swung outwardly for the l'mrposc above explained. Normally, the slug-catcher 35 hangs suspended below the roller 12 in the position illustrated at the left-hand in Fig. 1, a bent over ear or lug 39 at the lower end of the lever 30 contacting with the edge of the catcher to maintain it in this position. When a slug or bunch occurs in the yarn it will catch on a projection at the upper edge of the member 35 to cause the latter to be raised to grip the yarn against the roller in the mannerfaiul for the purpose as hereinafter more fully explainml.

One feature of the present: improvement consists in constructing the slug-catcher or clamping-elenient 35 in the manner as next described. The catcher or clamping element 35 comprises a plurality of relatively thin leaves or plates -12 held in a sheath or casing 43 constructed from a sheet-metal blank of the form shown in detail in Fig. It consists of two triangulair-shaped wings 14- joined together by a relatively narrow strip or tab 15 and having ears or lugs 46 projecting from their outer straight edges. The wings at of the blank are bent to stand at right-angles to the tab-portion -15, in opposite parallel relation to each other to adapt them to enclose the sides of the plates 42 held therebetween. The plates or leaves 12, shown in detail in Fig. 6, are of the same general contour as the sides or wings of the enclosing sheath or casing .12, and are formed with sharp teeth or serrations on their outer curved edges. The plates are made rightand lefthand so that they may be assembled IUD manic face of the slug-catching element 35 will be completely covered with projections. In this way the teeth of any given row are spaced a art a distance equal to the thiclc ness of tie plates or. leaves 42 so that the points of the teeth are exposed on all sides,

see Fig, 3, to provide very fine sharp edges adapted to be caught by the slug, bunch, or other enlargement on the yarn. As before stated, the leaves 42 are held between the sides or wings 44 of the casing 43, and the connecting strip or tab 45 engages slots 47 cut throught-he lower edges of the leaves. The two sides of the casing 43 are bound together by means of a rivet 48- passing t-hrough suitable holes 49 in the leaves and holes 50 in the wings 44 of the casing 43. The stud 36 which pivots the catcher 35 to the lever passes through suitable holes 51 in thewings 44 of the casing 43 and also through alining holes52 in the leaves. 42, a loose fit being provided so that the catcher will swing freely. on its pivot. It to be noted that the outer curved edges oi the leaves 42 are eccentric to'the axis on which the slug-catcher pivots so that the points of the teeth are arranged v progressively farther away. from the pivot toward the bottom of the catcher. This provides that when the slug-catcher is raised by the action of the slug its toothed face will dog or cam against the periphery of the roll 12 to clamp the strandthereon in the manner and for the purpose as hereinafter more fully explained. It is further to be noted, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, that the curved edges of the wings or sides 44 of the casing 43 project forwardly beyond the teeth onthe leaves 42 so that said edges will bear against the roll 12 when the clamping-element '35 enga es therewith. This arrangementprovides for protecting the points of the teeth from wear through contact with thehardened roll 12 when the clamping-element engages therewith.

The projections or lugs 46 0-11 the sides or wings 44 of the casing 43 are bent over across the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to'provide a socket for receiving a hardened plate or blade 53 which seats in suit-ablcslots 54 formed by cutting away the upper edges of the leaves 42. The blade 53 has a sharpened edge projecting forwardly to a slight extent beyond the points of the upper teeth on the catcher and servingas the means for obstructing the passage of the sing or bunch between the catcher and. the roller. Normally, with the catcher 35 :in its depressed position, as illustrated at the leftin l, the teeth or serrated edges of the leaves 42 are shielded from thepassing yarn or thread by means of an arcuate or curved guard 55 supported on the frame 2 below the catcher. The guard 55 takes the form of a sheet-metal strip or ribbon which is slitte'd and opened out to provide portions 56 enclosing a pivot-pin or stud 57 riveted through the back-plate 3 of the frame 2. The rearward end ofthe guard 55 is curled upwardly and around to enclose a cylindrical weight 58 which is secured thereto by means of a pin or rivet 59. The weight 58 may be cut from a length of rod and is provided at its inner end with a projecting-stud 60 received in a slotted opening 61 in the backplate 3 of the frame 2. The engagement of the stud 60 with the ends of the slot 61 acts to limit the swinging movement of the guard 55 on its pivot. The forward curved arm 62 of the guard 55 is adapted to be swung upwardly with its edge in position just beneath the sharpened edge of the slug-- catching blade 53. llhrough this arrangement the guard prevents the yarn from flying back and catching on the serrated face of the element 35, while being adapted to clear the edge of the plate 53 so that a sing or bunch will meet this edge to raise the element to clamp the yarn against the roller 12 in the manner as hereinafter more fully explained. The forward end of the arm- 62 of the guard 55 is punched out to provide two protuberances or swellings 63 on its face as shown in detail in Fig. 7. These protuberances form a channel for "the yarn drawing across the face of the guard 55 and thus serve as a means for confining the strand to its course to prevent it from being laterallydisplaced or from whipping or drawing out of position between the catcher and the roller 12.

Referringnow to Fig. 1,.the arm 14 which carries the roller 12 adjusted in position to set the device with the proper spacing between the periphery of the roller and the forward edge of the blade'53 on the catcher That is to say, the roller 12 is adjusted. to bring its periphery a certain distance away from the edge of the blade 53 in accordance with the size of yarn to be operated upon, this adjustment being effectedby sllding the rod or bar 10to swing the arm l4. Any suitable means may be provided for longitudinally adjusting the bar or rod 10, and a convenient and simple arrangement for this purpose is shown at the right in Fig. 1. As here illustrated the rod 10 extends through a bearing 64 which may be a part of a bracket mounted on the supporting rod 5. The rod 10 is screw-threaded to receive nuts 65 abutting either side of the bearing 64. By releasing one of these nuts 65 and turning the other one the rod may he slid to the extent required to adjust the arms '14- of theivhole series of .slugcatchcrs,

and after the adjustment is made the nuts are tightened against the bearing to secure the rod in fixed position.

The construction and arrangement of. a preferred embodiment of my improved singor lnmch-catcher having now been described its method of operation will next be explained: The devices are applied to position on the machine with their guiding-eyes 26 arranged below the tension-devices usually employed for tensioningz the yarn before it passes to the winding mechanism. The rod 10 is then adjusted to set the rollers 12 in such position with relation to the slugcatchers that the yarn or other strand 7 will draw between the periphery of the rollers and the edge of the slug-catching blades with a slight clearance so as to avoid any undue chafing; or abrasion of the material. As the yarn feeds to the machine it draws across the roller 12 which, being freely rotatable, will present no undue resistance to the draft of the strand. hen, however, a slug, bunch or other enlargement in the yarn passes up through the lower guide-eye 23 it will encounter the sharp edge of the blade and be obstructed thereby to cause the slug-catching element 85to be bodily raised on its pivot 36 into the position shown at the right in Fig. 1; it being understood that normally the slug-catcher hangs in the position shown at the left in Fig. l with its teeth or projections 40 shielded from the yarn by the guard 55. hen the catcher 35 is raised by the action of the slug or bunch, as above explained, its toothed portion will be brought up into position to engage the yarn to clamp the latter against the face of the roller 12. it being understood that. the teeth or serrations on the catcher 35 are-disposed in eccentric relation to its pivot so that the greater the lifting; movement of the catcher the greater the clamping, effect will be on the yarn. The result is that the slug or bunch will be firmly caught. and bound between the roller 12 and the catcher 35 so that the passage of the yarn through the device will be halted or restrained and the strand broken. The breaking of the strand acts automatically through the usual stopping devices applied to the winding or other machine to arrest the operation of said machine and the operator is notifiedthereby that piecing: up is required.

To clear the device previous to piecing up the thread and starting the machine again the o ierator presses on the lever 30 and swings the catcher outwardly so that the end of the strand containing the bunch or slop may be withdrawn from the device the slug or bunch broken out and the strand pieced again. After the yarn is pieced up the strand is drawn taut again to lead through the guide-eyes 23 and 26 and across the face of the roller 12, the slug-catcher 35 being meanwhile allowed to swing back into position, as shown at the left in Fig. l. The machine is then ready to start again and the yarn will feed through the device without obstruction until another slug or bunch occurs to operate in the same manner to move the element whereby the yarn is seized and broken to again stop the machine.

From the above it will be observed that my im n'ovement provides a particularly simple and ellicient devicefor the purpose specilied, and one which may be manufactured most economically in quantity to provide for its use in large nmnbers at relatively small cost. As employed in series, a large number of the devices may be :uljusted in unison and set with precision in accordance with the requirements dependent on the size of yarn being used. The improved slng-catchcr is free from complication and proof against derangement and getting out of order. while also being adapted to resist wear or deterioration of its parts during long, periods of use. It may be adjusted for operation on practically any size of yarn and may be set with such precision that properly tied knots are allowed to pass through the device without breaking the strand, while at the same time any undue enlargement such as a. bunch or slug will cause the operation of the device to break the yarn to stop the machine. Furthermore, the device is adapted for most convenient adjustment or settin in multi )lo and also for ease of access and convenience in piecing iii the yarn and cleaning away the accumulation of lint, loose ends, specks and motes gathered during; the process of clearing the yarn.

Unit I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a slugor bunch-catcher, thecombination of a bearing-element across which the yarn draws, a movable slug-detecting element arranged in spaced relation with respect to the bearing-element to permit the yarn to draw thercbetwecn, a pivoted lever on which one of said elements is nu'iunlcd, and means to swing said lever to adjust the relative position of said elements to vary the space therebctween in accordance with the size of the yarn being operated upon.

2. lo a slug or bunch-catcher the combination of a bearing-element across which the yarn draws a. slugdctecting element arranged in spaced relation with respect to the bearing-element to permit the yarn to draw therebetween and adapted to be engaged by a slug or other enlargement on the yarn to operate to arrest its travel to break the strand. a pivoted lever, means to monnt one of said elements on the lever adjacent its pivot, and means forrocking the lever on its pivot to effect a fine adjustment between the bearing-elen'ient and the slug-detecting element to vary the sl'iace therel'ietween in accordance 'with the size of the yarn being operated upon.

3. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame, an arm pivoted on said frame, a bearing-roller rotatably mounted on the arm to adapt the yarn to draw freely across its periphery, a movable clamping-element adapted to be engaged by a slug or enlargement in the yarn to be moved thereby to clamp the yarn against the roller, and an adjusting element connected to the arm to more the latter to adjust the position of the roller in relation to the clamping element.

4. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a bearing-element across which the yarn is adapted to draw, a clamping-element pivoted to swing into position to clamp the yarn against the bearing-element, a lever on which said cla1nping-element is pivoted, and means for mounting said lever to adapt it to be manually operated to swing the clamping-element laterally away from the bearing-element when it is required to withdraw the yarn from between said elements. a

5. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame, a bearing-element thereon across which the yarn draws, a lever pivoted to the frame to adapt it to swing laterally away therefrom, a clamping-element carried by said lever in opposite relation to the bearing-element and adapted to be engaged by a slug in the yarn to clamp the latter against the bearing-element, and means acting on the lever to normally maintain the clamping-element in line with the bearing-ole]nent.

6. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a frame-member, a bearingroller rotatively supported from said framemember to adapt the yarn to draw across its periphery, a lever pivoted on the frame-incur her to adapt it to rock outwardly therefrom in the direction of the axis of the roller, an eccentric clamping-element carried by said lever to adapt it to be moved into position to dog against the face of the roller, and a spring for holding the lever in position with the clampingelement in opposite relation to the roller.

7. In a device of the type specified, the

plate in spaced relation thereto to provide an entrance for the yarn into the guide-eye while preventing its escape therefrom, a bearing member supported from the frame to adapt the yarn to draw thereacross, and aneccentric clamping-element pivoted on the frame in opposite relation to the bearing-member to adapt it to be engaged by a slug in the yarn to be moved thereby to cause it to clamp the yarn against the bearirig-member.

S. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a bearing-member across which the yarn draws, a pivoted clampingelement having a serrated face adapted to be moved into position by a slug in the yarn to clamp the latter against the bearing-memher, and a guard arranged in position to shield the serratedface of the clamping-element to normally prevent the yarn from engaging therewith, said shield formed with protuberances on its face betweenwhich the yarn is adapted to draw to maintain it in position in contact with the bearing-member.

9. I11 a device of the type specified, the combination of a bearing-element across which the yarn draws, and a clamping-eleinent having an eccentric face adapted to be carried into contact with the bearing-element to bind the yarn thereagainst, said clampingelcment comprising a plurality of closely related segmental-shaped leaves with teeth on their curved edges, said teeth arranged in such relation as to be staggered across the face of the clainping-element when the leaves are assembled in overlying relation.

10. In a clamping-element for slngeatcliers or like devices, the combination of a plurality of relatively thin sheet-metal leaves of segmental shape having teeth on their curved edges, said leaves arranged in overlying relation with the teeth disposed in rows and the teeth of adjacent rows staggered in relation to each other to provide a plurality of serrations having the edges of the teeth exposed on all sides.

11. A clamping-element for slug-catchers or like devices comprising a sheet-metal casing formed with opposite segmental. wings and a relatively narrow strip connecting the same, a plurality of relatively thin sheetmetal leaves assembled between the wings of the casing and provided with serrations on their curved edges arranged in rows with the teeth in adjacent rows staggered. to expose the edges of the teeth on all sides.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS J. SANDS.

Ski 

